The Blessed Blog

Our Living Faith: Corpus Christi & The Streets

By: Glenna Walsh of Catholic Exchange

Growing up in a Catholic family, a Catholic school, and a Catholic neighborhood, I do not remember ever being told that the feast of Corpus Christi is a pretty big deal. No one need tell me; rather, it was shown to me, to the entire parish, through celebration. Every year after Mass we would have a procession. The celebrant, in his solemn vestments, would lead the parishioners, holding the Eucharist in the monstrance high above his head. The point impressed itself clearly upon my imagination: Jesus led His flock, my working class Italian neighborhood included, even if only around the block.

The wonder of this feast in my childhood was the Mystery of the Real Presence, that little wafer host becoming the biggest thing there is—namely, the Body and Blood of Christ. More often now, I wonder at how few seem to remember, know, or acknowledge this Mystery.

If the Real Presence, the crux of the Corpus Christi feast, is slipping quickly out of mind, it follows from a significant slip out of sight. Visible, tangible, sensible signs are one of the greatest gifts of our Faith. Signs are part of our living tradition, citing joy for what has been given to us and calling us to look to the future that God has prepared.

Think miracles. The liquifying of St. Gennaro’s blood this past March was immediately met not only with celebration by the people of Naples, of whom the saint is patron, but with an exhortation by Pope Francis to sanctity. All signs pointing to the glory of God are wonderful, but they need not be miraculous in themselves. We ordinary Catholics have our own ways of pointing to the manifestation of the Kingdom of God—we are, after all, the Mystical Body of Christ.

Up there with the Real Presence in the Eucharist, one of my favorite facets of Corpus Christi is the history of its celebration. The feast took to the streets long before my home parish started our procession. Anglophiles and history buffs will enjoy as much as I do the particular pageant tradition of medieval England. Every year on this feast day, the walled city of York would revel in the historical manifestation of God’s glory with a cycle of plays that told (often by silly puns and slapstick humor) the entirety of Salvation History. The guilds, groups of craft and tradesmen, were each responsible for a different story—the shipwrights performed the Building of the Ark, the bakers depicted the Last Supper. Twelve plays were put on each year, with the whole polity of York processing from wagon to wagon to see “not fiction, but the holy realities which from [their] childhood [they] learned to venerate.”

The tongue-in-cheek tone of the York plays has always struck me. Rather than make mockery of God’s Revelation throughout human history, they marry the silliness of human folly to the gravity of Divine Providence, thus raising an interesting point. Why, in the Middle Ages, were these ordinary Englishmen so comfortable with their faith? On the other hand, why did the entire city stop what it was doing to watch plays about Noah bickering with his wife?

In short, because they knew just how big a deal the Faith is and was, which they made clear through their signs and celebrations.

In big, dramatic displays and small, provincial ones, the Faithful have been taking our Faith to the streets since Day One. Less than two weeks ago we celebrated Pentecost, which remembers the Apostles coming out from fear and trembling and boldly proclaiming the Faith. It can be done in words, it can be done in deeds—it can be done in both, through signs, through celebrations, both in Mass and in mirth.

I said earlier that in my childhood the wonder of Corpus Christi was the Real Presence. Perhaps I misspoke; the delight of Corpus Christi was the Real Presence. The delight of the Mass was that every Sunday (in fact, every day) Jesus Christ the Son of God made a point of visiting my little parish, a tiny church tucked away on a South Philly corner. Once a year, we made a point of throwing Him a parade.

The medieval York plays told the story of human folly making life hellish and God, in His infinite Love and Mercy, fixing it.

Celebrations of this kind, celebrations of this truth, have dwindled over the years. Every year the participation in my parish procession gets smaller and smaller, but, at least, there is a procession. Today is the feast of Corpus Christi in many dioceses; we need to celebrate. We need to remember that Christ is with is in a very real way, every day on altars across the world. We need to remember that we are His body, His hands, His footmen, and we need to take to the streets. We need to celebrate our Faith, cherish it, rejoice in it.

We need, moreover, to bring our salvation to light in our lives, so that just maybe the world might rejoice in it with us. It is, after all, the biggest and best deal there is.

Happy Mother’s Day

As we celebrate Mother’s Day to honor the most important woman in our lives – our moms – we should also honor Mary, the Mother of God, and us all. The Bible tells as that she was the one who bore Christ, our Savior from our sins.

Jesus himself told His beloved disciple, John, “Behold your mother” (John 19:27), in a message to all the members of his Church that we should all behold the mother who brought God’s life to us. It is not surprising that Mary has become one of the most important images of the Catholic Church. Mary, our mother, has become the most sacred symbol of God’s love to his Church. As children of God, we are bound to one another through His love. And, Mary is the perfect symbol to remind us of this.

Through Mary, the faithful is called to her son. She is our shining example of human virtue and we look at her as the epitome of our faith, the true humble handmade of the Lord. Yet, she is a woman with intense compassion to her children. Many faithful believe that we can get faster through Christ through her intervention. Such is the power she wields.

Even the Vatican Council II recognizes her importance when it decided to include a summary of Marian doctrine in the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, instead of issuing another decree on Mary. Perhaps the Council Fathers want to remind the Catholic faithful that we should always place Mary equally within our understanding of the Christian faith.

Because Mother’s Day is also a time to pay tribute to the greatest mother of all, Mary, we can show our devotion to our Church with these Bible verses that will help us to reflect and renew our faith.

1. I Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous; is not proud; is not conceited; does not act foolishly; is not selfish; is not easily provoked to anger; keeps no record of wrongs; takes no pleasure in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

This is one of the most well-known passages in the Bible on love. A mother’s love knows no boundaries.

2. Philippians 4:8 – Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of a good report – if there is any virtue and if there is any praise – think on these things.

Moms are a great source of honor, loveliness and goodness. A mother’s love for her children is pure and full of virtue.

3. Psalm 127:3 – Lo, children are a heritage of the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
The Bible also teaches us to praise motherhood as God himself praises the woman who gives life to a child. Being a mother is God’s reward.

4. Isaiah 49:15 – Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? A mother will never forget her child no matter what. A mother’s love and devotion to her child will stand the test of time.

5. Psalm 139:13 – You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb
And even while we are still in our mother’s womb, God’s hand is already working to nurture us and make us what we are now.

By: Komfie Manalo

Prayer for Mothers

Loving God,We ask your blessings on all mothers.May they be inspired with your mercy, wisdom, strength and selfless love.For new mothers with new responsibilities; For expectant mothers, wondering and waiting;For those who are tired, stressed or depressed; For those who balance the tasks of work and family; For those whose children have physical, mental and emotional disabilities;For those who raise children on their own; For those who selflessly place their child for adoption; For those who adopt a child into their family;For those who have lost a child; For those who care for the children of others; For those whose children have left home; For those whose desire to be a mother has not been fulfilled.Bless all mothers, that their love may be deep and tender, and that they may lead their children to know and do what is good.Amen

Harvesting the Mission: Earth Day 2016

By: Danielle O’Brien

“There is a nobility in the duty to care for creation through little daily actions . . . showing care for other living beings, using public transport or car-pooling, planting trees, turning off unnecessary lights, or any number of other practices. All of these reflect a generous and worthy creativity which brings out the best in human beings.” -Laudato Si’ 211

Earth Day is an opportunity to respond to the Pope’s call, as good stewards of the gifts God gave us.

April 22, 2016 marks the 46th anniversary of Earth Day, a secular celebration that many faith communities have incorporated into their annual calendars.

Care for Our Common Home (Laudato Si’) was Pope Francis’ appeal addressed to “every person living on this planet” for an inclusive dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet.

Pope Francis calls the Church and the world to acknowledge the urgency of our environmental challenges and to join him in embarking on a new path. This encyclical was written with both hope and resolve, looking to our common future with truthfulness and humility.

With that focus in mind, St. John XXIII Catholic Church has partnered with Healthy Harvest Community Farms to grow a vegetable garden on the property next to the St. John XXIII Villas.

Healthy Harvest Community Farms is a local non-profit organization that focuses on feeding the hungry by growing fruits and vegetables and then donating the produce to local pantries.

“We do so much with the vegetables we grow. Some go to St. Martin de Porre’s kitchen and food pantry, other produce is traded with farms that local pantries lack in vegetables. Bottom line, we provide fruits and vegetables to those in need through food banks and organizations at no cost. We want to promote a clean and healthy lifestyle for people in the community, regardless of economic limitations,” Joe Pearson, CEO of Healthy Harvest Community Farms, said.

The organically grown fruits and vegetables on the parish’s grounds will benefit residents at St. John XXIII Villas, and local food banks and kitchens such as St. Martin de Pores and Lehigh Community Services.

The future farm is Healthy Harvest Community Farm’s seventh farm and will rely on volunteers with the upkeep of the farm. The best part is, no experience is necessary. Joe and his team will train you, your ministry or your family. When volunteer work days open up we’ll announce it in the bulletin and schedule a sign-up.

We’re looking forward to seeing parishioners respond to Pope Francis’ call while feeding those in need (and learning and having fun too!).

Encyclical Prayer: Prayer for our Earth
All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe
and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,
so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts
of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature
as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle
for justice, love and peace.
Amen.

YARN needed! Craftie Ladies appreciate all your generous donations in the past, and now we are in need of more yarn to make projects. You may drop off the donations in the church Narthex. Thank you so much in helping us do for others.

Due to an increase in seasonal parishioners, the back grass parking lot is now open for all Masses. The golf cart shuttle will be available.

We remind you that if there is ANYONE asking for money around the Church outside of Mass at our exits, ignore them. We have been contacted by the police regarding a group of professionals who travel to various churches. Be generous in giving to our Poor Boxes. That is where and how we can assist those who are truly in need.

Thank you IStorage Fiddlesticks & Valuguard Self Storage! It’s obvious space is tight right now, but thanks to IStorage Fiddlesticks at 13701 Indian Paint Ln and Valuguard Self Storage at 13750 Plantation Rd we can safely store some of our items. A special thank you to them both for providing the parish with a storage unit at no cost for our year-round and holiday needs.

If you are hospitalized at Gulf Coast Hospital and would like to be visited by one of our Eucharistic Ministers, please let the Hospital Admissions Office know you are from our parish and contact our parish office, as well. Once you go home, if you are unable to attend Mass and would like to have the Eucharist brought to you, please call the parish office. 239-561-2245.

Mirage Nails & Spa has partnered with St. John XXIII The salon, located at 14261 Tamiami Trail South, (In the Bonefish Grill Plaza) will donate 10% of your purchase to the Capital Campaign. You must tell your tech you’re from St. John XXIII. Walk-ins and appointments welcome! 239-433-0061

We are in need of adult volunteers to assist our Catechists for our Middle School Youth Group! We are growing in leaps and bounds…which is a wonderful thing! Please contact Lois Kittenplan lois@johnxxiii.net. No prior experience necessary. You don’t need to be a Theologian; just need a heart for God.

We need your help with keeping our database current: Have you moved, changed email addresses, dropped a landline or changed your cell number? Please email Maryann@johnxxiii.net with any changes or additions to your contact information.

Please note!! If you make monetary contributions by credit card, card companies are issuing new cards with microchip technology. Please contact the Parish Office (561-2245) if there are any changes to your card, including expiration dates, so there is no interruption in your contributions.

Advertise with us! As much as you enjoy reading our bulletin, we’d love for you to be in it! If you own a business and are interested in advertising in our bulletin, please contact Dennis Gardner at J.S. Paluch 239-470-9200.

Helping Hands

By Parishioner Dan Pieper, RCIA Catechist

Each Sunday when I arrive at the church for Mass, I know there will be gifts waiting for me sent by the Holy Spirit himself, the Lord and Giver of Life as we proclaim in the Creed. I know this because my gifts are life-giving .They have sustained me for years, causing my faith to grow and deepen no matter what obstacles get in my way.

It is Peggy, (my loving wife of 45 years) who brings me here each week, dropping me off at the front door because balance issues make walking difficult especially in crowded environments. It is always a comfort to see Al, our Minister of Welcome, waiting for me. He knows I will need help getting out of the car and doesn’t seem to mind handing me the cane that Peggy is passing through the open window, the one that I inevitably drop on the ground. While she leaves in search of a parking place, Al escorts me through the heavy entry door while as we continue the conversation we have every week…

“So, you still let sinners in here?” I ask.

“We love sinners.” he answers with a smile.

“Thank God!”

I inch my way through the pandemonium in the narthex, my eyes searching for the calming presence of another welcoming minister. Her name is Marilyn and her station is the door to the quiet interior of the church, the Door of Mercy. She too wears a smile and never fails to tell me how nice I look despite my half-buttoned shirt and mismatched socks. She has made it her mission to get me seated where I need be…a job made difficult by my wish to be in two places at the same time.

One of these is among the broken people in the handicap row. It is a place littered with walkers, wheel chairs, crutches, canes and other contraptions suggesting misfortune, weakness, tragedy and despair. For me, however, it is a place of peace, caring, courage and hope. The people here all wait patiently for the Spirit to appear like the crippled man by the pool at Bethesda. “Sir, I have no one to put me in the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way someone else gets there before me.” So it seems to many of us until the Eucharistic ministers (Christophers) arrive carrying the healing, broken body of Christ to us. They are like the servants at Cana bringing the best wine to the wedding guests. It is a ministry poorly understood but desperately needed.

Their caregivers sit in this row too. You can tell them by their gentle manner, the worry in their eyes, and the pain hidden in their faces. There is a special bond among these people, all traveling in the same leaky boat and holding on to each other for dear life. There is no room here for anger, bitterness, or pride…just compassion, prayer and encouragement. I have come to love them all and yet…
…And yet there is another place I need to be.

There is a special place in the front of the church, a section of pews reserved for the people involved with the RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION. (RCIA) While the Handicap Row is devoted to bodily problems, this section focuses on matters of the Soul. The people here have also sensed the stirring of the Spirit and have responded by seeking full communion with us in the Catholic Church.

For months they have prepared themselves by asking questions, formal instruction, studying the scriptures and participating in rites both ingratiating and deeply humbling. It has been my honor to journey with them as a catechist (teacher), although it is me who has benefited most from their collective wisdom, personal stories and profound insights. On this Sunday, Marilyn lifts the braided rope guarding an empty pew and I slide beneath, stashing my cane under the kneeler. Slowly the benches fill up around me. I realize I’ll never be able to get up for communion unless, perhaps, some guys lower me through the roof on a mat.

My plight must have been obvious because a woman sitting behind me began to calmly pat my shoulders with a healing touch while apologizing for singing too loudly in my ear. Fellow catechist, Rich Byrne offered his strong hand to help me from my seat to the aisle, Marilyn appeared to direct traffic, and Peggy came to apologize for the scene I was making. It takes a village sometimes to get one man to communion.

It is not one man, however, who seeks healing and nourishment. All of us are broken in some fashion and need the grace of God to save us. The people in the Handicap Row have discovered the healing presence of Jesus sitting in their midst, the people of the RCIA have been called my name and long for the grace they will receive at the Easter Vigil in the sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist). Indeed, we are all SACRAMENTS TO EACH OTHER, in our Catholic community of Saint John XXIII, outward signs created by God to point out the way to heaven and to give grace by the helping hands we extend to each other every day.

An Easter Message from Father Bob:

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Risen Lord,

A Blessed and Happy Easter to all of you!

It has been so good to see so many of you here at St. John XXIII throughout Lent, Holy Week and Easter. As we celebrate the great feast of Easter, our thoughts bring to mind new life and alleluias.

If this is your first visit to our church, we warmly welcome you and invite you to embrace our mission. Perhaps you are a member of another denomination; please know you are welcome to inquire and learn more about the different religious education programs we offer.
Please feel free to contact us if there is ever an issue you feel you need to discuss.

Many of our seasonal visitors are leaving or have left for the summer months. We thank you for being an important member of our parish community and we look forward to your return.

As we celebrate this Easter Season, I encourage you to invite others to return – those that are “on sabbatical” from their Catholic faith. Perhaps some of our loved ones have been wounded by a particular experience in the Catholic Church. I understand. But when we focus on the foundation of our faith, we see Him reaching out with open arms. I encourage all of you to reach out to that one person you know- a family member, friend, work associate- and invite them to come home- it’s time to celebrate the Eucharist.

Parish Mission | At a Glance

Pope Francis:
Jesus’s attitude is striking: we do not hear the words of scorn, we do not hear words of condemnation, but only words of love, of mercy, which are an invitation to conversation. “Neither do I condemn you; go and do not sin again.”

Pope Francis:
Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy. These words might well sum up the mystery of the Christian faith. Mercy has become living and visible in Jesus of Nazareth, reaching its culmination in him.

Tuesday, March 8th
How do we share God’s mercy? 8:45am – 9:45am & 7:00pm – 8:00pm with evening Reconciliation Service
Readings: Micah 6:8 | Luke 19:1-10Quiet Reflection: How can I grow in compassion for others?

Pope Francis:
The time has come for the Church to take up the joyful call to mercy once more. It is time to return to the basics and to bear the weaknesses and struggles of our brothers and sisters. Mercy is the force that reawakens us to new life and instills in us the courage to look to the future with hope.

Reconciliation Service
1 Peter 2:4-10
Quiet Reflection:How am I in need of mercy and forgiveness? How can I extend mercy and forgiveness to another?

“A Parish Mission is an opportunity for us to get away and get into that boat with Jesus. It’s a time to quiet ourselves and listen to Him and ask, ‘What is Jesus saying to me right now?’”

2016 St. John XXIII Parish Picnic Recap

The Annual Parish Picnic was a great success! A special Thank You to Picnic Coordinators, Dick & Pat Dohack and Al & Sharon Natella, along with their amazing team of volunteers in the kitchen. Thank you to Bill & Lois Becker, Carol Davis, Andy & Betsy Engelbrecht, Tony Gravette, Knights of Columbus, Youth Group, Bishop Verot Students, and Boy Scout Troop 1! Big Thanks to Lt. Angelo Vaughn with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and South Trail Fire Department for participating in the event with fun tutorials about law enforcement and fire safety. Thank you to The Hispanic Community for their delicious empanadas! Last, none of this would have happened without the hard work of Robert Erp, our Maintenance Supervisor and his team of helpers.

Rally in Tally

Their Education, Their Future, Their Voice

On January 19th, thousands of Florida parents and students rallied at the state’s capitol to urge the state’s largest teachers’ union to drop a lawsuit that challenges the Florida Step Up for Students income-based scholarship program.

Today, Step Up for Students serves more than 77 thousand students in Florida. Should this legislation be overturned, more than 550 students in the Diocese of Venice would be without scholarships to support their enrollment in our Catholic schools.

Parishioners Sophie (11 years old) and Hannah (9 years old) Cruz attend St. Francis Xavier School on the Step Up Scholarship. They, along with their mother, Joana traveled in a bus-load of local parents and students to Tallahassee to take part in the “Rally in Tally”. They talked with me about their experience at the event, their passion for Catholic Education and the importance of the Step Up Scholarship program.

Danielle O’Brien: Why did you want to participate in Rally in Tally?

Joana Cruz: I wanted to participate in the rally because I will make any step necessary to save the scholarship that gives my kids the option to be in Catholic School.

Sophie Cruz: I wanted to participate in the Rally in Tally because I believe that kids have the right to choose the school that they want to go to, no matter where they live.

Danielle: Talk about your experience at the Rally! What was it like? How many people were there?

Joana: There were parents, students, educators and lots of school choice supporters. We had to leave at 2:00 a.m. and travel on the bus for 7 hours on a chilly morning of 30 degrees, spent about 4 hours there, then come back home. It was worth it, no regrets! My kids had a great experience overall!

Sophie: In America, you have the right to say and stand for what you want. During the rally, we said, “DROP THE SUIT!” and “I WANT MY SCHOLARSHIP!” I think I was the loudest one because by the end of the day, my throat was sore!

It was very exhilarating! Some people started to sing songs and shout chants. My school, St. Francis Xavier and another school made signs for the event. We all wore bright neon yellow t-shirts that said “#DROPTHESUIT.” The best part was that there were more than 10 thousand people with me! Can you believe it?! I can’t!

Hannah: It was a long trip and a cold day, but there were still so many people there. It was awesome to see thousands of people walking in peace and hope.

Danielle: Why do you love attending Catholic School?

Hannah: I love attending Catholic School because I have a lot of friends at my school. I love St. Francis Xavier. I’m afraid of the possibility of not being able to attend if we lose the suit.

Joana: To have my children in the local Catholic school was the best choice I have made for their future. We are so fortunate to have this unique opportunity! We became members of a special community where I am constantly amazed by the level of education they receive and the love that surrounds them every day!

They learn to serve, to pray and share their faith! They’re so comfortable and secure being there! They do not strive to be just good students, but also to care for others. Being Christ-like is as priority in their lives!

The support we have from the faculty and all other staff is priceless. Anytime my children have a problem that comes up, the school just contacts us, personally, by phone, by email and calmly ask how we can solve it together. It’s great to have a Principal who knows your kids and encourages them. It’s a great feeling of comfort to have your child’s first grade teacher calling you and asking why your child is not in a good mood that particular day and wonder if he’s not feeling well.

Teachers are there for you anytime you need to discuss anything about your child. They talk to you, give advice, tips and really care. It’s awesome to see the parents involved in all activities, working thousands of volunteer hours to make sure the school progresses.

Danielle: Why is it important ot you that the Step-up Program continues to be funded in Florida?

Sophie: How will I know if I will grow up to be one of the most influential person in the world because of the right education? Maybe there is a girl out there that wants to be president, but doesn’t have the right education. With the right education and motivation, everything is possible.

Joana: It is very important that the program that allows low-income parents to choose the school that best meets their children’s needs continues. Step Up for Students simply levels the education playing field for disadvantaged families. Perhaps some parents prefer public schools, but some students simply do better in private schools, which may offer a more intimate atmosphere or specialized programs. In our case, if the Step of Program ends, we will lose the option to give our kids Catholic education. Having them there, we know that nothing can hold back our Faith!

ARCHBISHOP BERNARDITO AUZA CELEBRATES MASS AT ST. JOHN XXIII

On Sunday, December 6th, Archbishop Bernardito Auza celebrated the 11:15am Mass at our parish. The Mass represnted all communities at our parish featuring readings in English, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese. A very special thank you to all the ministries who made the Mass truly beautiful: Vietnamese Community, Hispanic Community, Knights of Columbus, The A-Team, Pro Photo’s by Tony Gravatte, Music Director Robert Kirchner and the Choir, Lois Becker and The Hospitality Team, and all volunteers!

WHAT HAPPENS IN A HOLY YEAR?

By Today’s Catholic News

A Jubilee Year is made

St. John Paul II wanted the entire Church to enter the 21st century in a spirit of hope, strengthened by a deep-reaching renewal of faith. The new millennium’s arrival, he believed, signaled the start of a new stage in the Church’s history.

So in a 1994 apostolic letter titled “As the Third Millennium Draws Near” (“Tertio Millennio Adveniente”), he asked the Church’s people to begin preparing for a turn-of-the-century holy year, the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000.

This preparation would encompass a years-long period of reflection aimed at assuring that “the great challenge of the year 2000 is not overlooked.” From his pontificate’s very beginning, he considered this holy year “an important appointment,” St. John Paul said in January 2001, in his document “Novo Millennio Ineunte.”

“I thought of its celebration as a providential opportunity during which the Church, 35 years after the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, would examine how far she had renewed herself in order to be able to take up her evangelizing mission with fresh enthusiasm.”

The pope particularly wanted Catholics to focus from 1997 to 1999 on the Trinity, revisiting the ancient teaching on “Jesus Christ and His mystery of salvation” in 1997 and in 1998 developing “a renewed appreciation” of the Spirit’s “presence and activity,” he wrote in “As the Third Millennium Draws Near.”

The pope urged that 1999 be devoted to God the Father. All Christian life “is like a great pilgrimage to the house of the Father,” who loves every human being unconditionally, he wrote.

He hoped that a “sense of being on a ‘journey to the Father’” would “encourage everyone to undertake … a journey of authentic conversion.”

With that final word, St. John Paul summed up every holy year’s purpose: “conversion.” Holy years are times for turning toward God in ways that make a great difference for life in the faith community and in the world.

All holy years are alike in this sense. Conversion and renewal constitute the underlying rationale for the ordinary holy years celebrated every 25 years and the extraordinary holy years celebrated at other times, like the Year of Mercy, which began on December 8.

The sacrament of Reconciliation is accented strongly during a holy year. Conversion is this sacrament’s goal. Turning from whatever is sinful, people now accept God’s invitation to pursue a renewed life.

This way of living takes concrete form in prayer, worship and care for others. Penance, prayer, worship and service all play major roles in a holy year’s celebration.

God’s generous forgiveness of human failings also is underscored by the traditional holy year practice of granting indulgences, a practice linked with entering through the holy door of one of the Roman basilicas or of the cathedrals and churches designated by local bishops.

Pope Francis, describing an indulgence in his apostolic letter for the Year of Mercy, wrote that “in the sacrament of Reconciliation God forgives our sins, which He truly blots out.” But “sin leaves a negative effect on the way we think and act.”

The pope explained that “it becomes indulgence” on the part of God, who through the Church “reaches the pardoned sinner and frees him from every residue left by the consequences of sin, enabling him to act with charity, to grow in love.”

When Blessed Paul VI announced plans for the 1975 jubilee, he recalled how holy years developed historically and mentioned indulgences. He said:

“The jubilee was instituted by Boniface VIII in the year 1300 for a purely spiritual purpose. It consisted in making a penitential pilgrimage to the tombs of the apostles Peter and Paul. … In 1500, there was added to the jubilee the opening of the holy doors of the basilicas that were to be visited. This was intended … to symbolize easier access to divine mercy through the gaining of the jubilee indulgence.”

If all holy years are alike, each holy year is unique, for each one takes place in unique times.

Certainly, Pope Francis describes the Year of Mercy as “an extraordinary moment of grace and spiritual renewal.” Still, making clear what is unique about the present moment, he writes: “The time has come for the Church to take up the joyful call to mercy once more. It is time to return to the basics and to bear the weaknesses and struggles of our brothers and sisters.”

Pope Paul VI rather uniquely twinned the theme of renewal with the theme of reconciliation for the 1975 holy year. Reconciliation directly concerns “practical living,” he observed, since human lives and relationships are disturbed by so much disharmony.

Re-establishing a happy relationship with God will pave the way to re-establishing caring, just relationships with others in many settings, he proposed.

Pope Paul wanted as many as possible to undertake a holy year pilgrimage to the tombs of the apostles Peter and Paul.

Christians on pilgrimage, he noted, come into contact with the ancient sources of the Church’s faith and life in order to be converted by repentance, strengthened in charity and united more closely with their brethren by the grace of God.

On proclaiming a holy year

The concept of a holy year finds its roots in Judaism when a special year of forgiveness and pardon — a jubilee, if you will — was celebrated every 50 years.

As Leviticus 25:10 explains, “You shall treat this fiftieth year as sacred. You shall proclaim liberty in the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to your own property, each of you to your own family.” The jubilee year celebrated forgiveness and returning to one’s home.

From the start, holy years have focused on the forgiveness of sins and have included indulgences (remission of punishment for sin) earned through penitential practices and pilgrimages to holy sites, particularly the four major basilicas in Rome. Participation during these holy years has historically been strong.

Dante’s “Inferno” mentions the number of pilgrims heading into Rome seeking the indulgence. In later years, the indulgences were extended to those who could not travel to Rome by allowing pilgrimages to holy sites within the individual’s home country or even home diocese.

One of the traditions of the holy year is the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica. This tradition began in 1500 when Pope Alexander VI announced that the doors of the four major Roman basilicas that were part of the pilgrimage route — St. Peter’s, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. John Lateran and St. Mary Major — would be opened simultaneously.

The symbolism of entering through each of the doors refers to the passage in John’s Gospel, where Jesus says, “I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved” (10:9).

The celebration of a holy year was changed markedly by St. John Paul II during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000.

First, he proclaimed three years of meditation on the members of the Trinity before the holy year began.

Second, he simplified the holy year rites and the requirements for gaining the offered indulgences.

Third, for the first time, other Christians were invited to celebrate that holy year with Catholics.

The ecumenical aspects and the loosened requirements for indulgences will continue during the Year of Mercy Pope Francis has called for, to be held Dec. 8, 2015, to Nov. 20, 2016.
In his letter establishing the upcoming Year of Mercy, Pope Francis has again established an indulgence for those who make a pilgrimage to the basilicas in Rome or, for those who cannot travel, who make a visit to their local cathedral.

In addition, while making this pilgrimage, the pilgrim is to make Confession, celebrate the Eucharist and pray for the pope’s intentions. These last three are traditional requirements for receiving an indulgence.
For those unable to travel — the sick or elderly, and those in prison — the pope offers relaxed requirements for celebrating the holy year:

“Living with faith and joyful hope this moment of trial, receiving Communion or attending holy Mass and community prayer, even through the various means of communication, will be for them the means of obtaining the Jubilee indulgence.” In so doing, the pope prays that all will “be touched in a tangible way by the mercy of the Father.”

In addition, the pope has offered an indulgence for anyone who performs at least one of the corporal or spiritual works of mercy — feeding the hungry, praying for those in need, etc. — during this year of grace.
One of the biggest changes of the Year of Mercy is the emphasis the pope has placed upon the Church and all believers to be missionaries of mercy:

“The experience of mercy, indeed, becomes visible in the witness of concrete signs as Jesus Himself taught us. Each time that one of the faithful personally performs one or more of these actions, he or she shall surely obtain the jubilee indulgence.”

Trunk or Treat Recap

The event, held on October 24th, was a great success! Special thanks to the Youth, Meghan & Aaron McCarthy, Chris Biel, Knights of Columbus, Angelo & Catherine Vaughn and their parking crew, the Boy Scouts, Tony Gravatte for capturing the evening, and the Vance Family for sharing their wonderful ‘Mystery Maze.’

Announcing Archbishop Bernadito Auza’s Visit to St. John XXIII Catholic Church

It is with great excitement to announce that Archbishop Bernadito Auza, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations will celebrate the 11:15am Mass on December 6th. In his trip to Southwest Florida, Archbishop Auza will present the 2015 Servitor Pacis Award to St. John XXIII Parishioners, Bob and Linda Simpson at the Florida Path to Peace Gala. The Annual Path to Peace Award is bestowed on individuals in recognition of thier commitment to the development of peace and human progress in the local, national and international arenas.

The event takes place on Saturday, Decemeber 5th. Please see the flyer on page 9 with the details and how to attend.

The Most Reverend Bernadito Auza was born in Talibon, The Republic of the Philippines on June 10, 1959. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Tagbilaran in 1985.

Archbishop Auza attended the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome earning a doctorate in Sacred Theology and entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1990. He has served at several diplomatic posts that include Madagascar, Bulgaria and Albania.

He also served in the Secretariat of the State at the Vatican and later at the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York.

His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Msgr. Auza Apolostolic Nuncio to Haiti on May 8, 2008 and was ordained Titular Archbishop of Suacia on July 3, 2008.

Archbishop Auza was appointed Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations by His Holiness, Pope Francis on July 1, 2014. He was also appointed Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the Organization of the American States on July 16, 2014.

The Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations was officially established on 6 April 1964 and has since provided an active role toward the advancement of peace and justice in the international community, serving as a vehicle for promoting the teachings of the Catholic Church. Increasing interest in the works of the Papal Mission at the United Nations underlined the need to spread greater awareness of the teachings of the Holy Father on important international questions of morality, development and human rights, in order to provoke discussion and formulate humanitarian action.

Due to the need for expanded humanitarian and conciliatory activities which go beyond the strictly diplomatic parameters of the Holy See Mission to the United Nations, the Path to Peace Foundation was established in 1991, by Archbishop Renato R. Martino, the then Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations. The Foundation, independent from, but in collaboration with the Holy See Mission, directs its activities primarily to the international stage of the United Nations. Its principal purpose is the spreading of the message of peace by which the Catholic Church, through the words and activities of the Pope and of the Holy See, strives to “guide our steps into the path of peace” (Luke 1:79).

The Path to Peace Foundation accomplishes this goal by disseminating information and documentation on statements and initiatives of the Holy Father, the Holy See and Catholic organizations aimed at building a world of justice, charity and peace. Likewise, it initiates programs such as conferences, seminars, lectures, etc., to study the social teachings of the Church, as well as promoting initiatives of a cultural nature, touching on the Christian heritage of art, music and the humanities. Furthermore, the Foundation fosters projects of a religious, conciliatory, humanitarian and charitable nature with a view to promoting fundamental human rights by calling attention to specific emergency needs arising in different parts of the world.

Download Our New Parish App!

Our new St. John XXIII app is now available to download for iPhone and Android smart phones. Stay connected with our parish throughout the week with instant notifications, an easy-to-access event calendar, and the ability to quickly reply to or share messages via Facebook or Twitter. Also, enjoy several other additional features like prayers, daily readings, helpful reminders to silence your phone before Mass or Confession, and much more! Help foster a stronger parish life at St. John XXIII and better engage the New Evangelization.

Download our app today at myparishapp.com or search your phone’s app store for myparish. You can also text the word “APP” to 88202! Special thanks to Home Watch Plus for sponsoring our app!

Spiritually Prepare for the Jubilee Year of Mercy

This December 8th consecration to Jesus through Mary will perfectly allow us to begin the Jubilee Year of Mercy that Pope Francis has declared. So what does this all mean, and how does one join in? Here are the FAQs:

What is a jubilee year?

In the ancient Hebrew tradition, the Jubilee Year, which was celebrated every 50 years, was meant to restore equality among all of the children of Israel, offering new possibilities to families which had lost their property and even their personal freedom.

The Catholic tradition of the Holy Year began in 1300. From 1475 onwards – in order to allow each generation to experience at least one Holy Year – the ordinary Jubilee was to be celebrated every 25 years. However, an extraordinary Jubilee may be announced on the occasion of an event of particular importance.

The Catholic Church has given to the Hebrew Jubilee a more spiritual significance. It consists in a general pardon, an indulgence open to all, and the possibility to renew one’s relationship with God and neighbor. Thus, the Holy Year is always an opportunity to deepen one’s faith and to live with a renewed commitment to Christian witness.

With the Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis focuses attention upon the merciful God who invites all men and women to return to Him. The encounter with God inspires in one the virtue of mercy.
The most recent extraordinary Jubilee Years were those in 1933, to celebrate 1900 hundred years of Redemption and in 1983, on the occasion of the 1950 years of Redemption.

What is Marian Consecration?

St. Pope John Paul II calls the Marian Consecration Devotion “the decisive turning point” of his life. In simplest terms, we give ourselves to Mary to be formed into the image of her Son.
Put another way, Marian Consecration or Entrustment is to give ourselves to Jesus through Mary so that she can bring us to the pierced side of Jesus, which is the Fountain of Mercy.
St. Louis de Montfort said that a total consecration to Jesus through Mary is the “quickest, easiest, surest and most perfect” path to becoming a saint.

How does Marian Consecration help us enter the Jubilee Year?

According to Pope Francis, it’s Mary who will prepare us for the Year of Mercy. For instance, in the document that establishes this extraordinary time of grace for the Church, he asked that “the sweetness of [Mary’s] countenance” might “watch over us in this Holy Year, so that all of us may rediscover the joy of God’s tenderness.”

Pope Francis decided that the Year of Mercy should begin on December 8th “when we remember and celebrate Mary’s greatest experience of God’s mercy: her being preserved from the first moment of her conception, from all stain of original sin.” This was an act of mercy she did nothing to deserve. Rather it came as a totally free gift at the very moment when she came to be. Because Mary knows the free gift of God’s mercy more than any other creature, she wants us to know it too.

By beginning the Year of Mercy consecrating to Mary, we will enter in more deeply to experience God’s mercy and then be able to share it better with others.

What should we do if we’d like to consecrate?

There are two ways:

1) Use the FREE retreat materials of 33 Days to Morning Glory by Fr. Michael Gaitley. In his retreat, one reads just 2 pages a day from the book, answers a couple of questions from the retreat companion and ponders them throughout the day. Then weekly, watch a video lecture by Fr. Gaitley to summarize the preparation. The retreat can be done alone or in small groups. For online materials, subscribe to www.formed.org. Parish code: 1823ee

On this Feast of Our Lady, we will focus on this first day of our Church’s Jubilee Year of Mercy. There will be periods of teaching, guided meditative prayer and communal sharing. The hope is that we will each become more aware of God’s generous mercy and so share more readily with others this ever-present and abundant forgiving love. On this Holy Day, the retreat offers you the opportunity to attend either the 8:00am or Noon Mass. Refreshments served from 8:45 AM–9:00 AM.

Please register in the narthex or email Jennifer Engelman at jennifer@johnxxiii.net

Crisis Pregnancy: The Power of an Image

By: Danielle Koleniak

As we dive into week two of Respect life Month: You are not Alone, we center in on a topic commonly identifiable with the ‘Respect Life’ subject: Crisis Pregnancy. Rather than focusing on the horror from the recent headlines involving Planned Parenthood and their alleged business practices, we’re going to report back to you some good news. About a year ago, parishioners of St. John XXIII joined forces with the Knights of Columbus to raise funds to purchase an ultrasound machine for Verity Pregnacy & Medical Resource Center. Verity is a non-profit, faith-based medical center that offers services such as pregnacy tests, ultrasounds, counseling, referral services (and the list goes on) to women and couples who are facing an unplanned pregnacy. Executive Director Becky Anderson says the results from the brand new ultrasound machine are nothing short of an answered prayer– and it’s not slowing down.

So far this year, the center has saved more than 50 babies’ lives and she credits the hand of God, a hardworking staff and crystal clear images from the new ultrasound machine.

Danielle Koleniak: What has this past year been like at Verity Pregnancy & Medical Resource Center?
Becky Anderson: We are definitely feeling the blessings of God! We knew last December when we met for our staff retreat that God was calling us to be busier. We really didn’t know what that would look like, but sure enough when January 2nd came, and we opened our doors, we started seeing more clients every single day. We are now at a 60 percent increase in total client visits for the year. We’re very busy, but it’s all really good things. We’re seeing more abortion-vulnerable clients. We’re having the opportunity to do more child birthing classes and more counseling sessions. It helps these young families who don’t even know what they are facing, allow us to come alongside and help them learn what it means to be a parent. It really encourages them. It’s really exciting to see. We’re handling all of this with the same size staff and volunteers as last year. Are we tired? Yes! Are we blessed? Very much so! I’m really thankful that God is allowing us to do His work.

DK: It’s also been a year since you’ve received the new ultrasound machine, donated by the faithful parishioners of St. John XXIII. What effect or influence has this had in the past 12 months?
BA: By the numbers, we are also seeing a 60 percent increase in the number of ultrasounds we are doing. The stories are endless…. but here’s one:
About three weeks ago, we had a mother call to make an appointment for her 17 year-old daughter who she believed was pregnant as a result of a forced sexual encounter. They went to Planned Parenthood and the 17 year-old girl decided she wanted an abortion. Her mother did not want her to have one and was trying to gently help her toward a choice for life. She then called us to make that appointment. The girl came here because when she went to Planned Parenthood, she could not afford the ultrasound that she needed in order to know how much she was going to have to come up with to pay for the abortion. When she came to us for the free ultrasound, she saw the baby and made the choice for life.

DK: What’s next for her and the baby?
BA: She is in the process of making those decisions. We gave her all the information she needs on adoption. She left here saying she was going to take her time making the decision between parenting and adoption because she knew she was young and didn’t feel she was prepared to be a mother, but she wasn’t going to rush it. With our guidance, she was able to talk to some people who had been through all of it- adoptions, abortions and teen-motherhood. We reminded her that there is no rush. The baby is not coming tomorrow and that she has time to think through this and explore the options. The rest of the story is untold, but now the family will remain whole in so many ways, and that would not have happened, had she decided to get an abortion.

DK: What does the new ultrasound machine allow mothers to see, that could not be seen before?
BA: Just over a year ago, we were sitting in our conference room with some leaders from the parish’s Knights of Columbus talking about their interest in getting us a new ultrasound machine. We knew we would need the ultrasound machine sooner than later because what we had at the time was grainy and difficult to read. When we called for some technical assistance, we were told that if we could shut the machine down after every ultrasound, it would preserve the image just a little for the next one, but we would eventually have to get a new one. After that meeting, we thought we might get the new ultrasound machine sometime in 2015, but by the grace of God and the generosity, passion and persistence of the parishioners of St. John XXIII, as well as, the Knights of Columbus, we got the ultrasound machine much more quickly than we ever could have imagined. It was installed on October 2nd, 2014.

Before, with the old ultrasound, if a girl came in and was five weeks pregnant, we weren’t able to show her much. We could point to what we knew was a baby, but the girl would not be able to see it. Now at five and six weeks, you can clearly see the baby. More importantly, since October 2nd 2014, I can’t count the number of times we’ve watched an abortion-vulnerable girl who looks up at the screen, may not understand what she is looking at, fully, but sees a beating heart. That makes all the difference. It becomes that first moment of bonding. It literally saves lives.

DK: Has Planned Parenthood’s recently made headlines for alleged horrendous practices, made any difference for the women who walk through your doors?
BA: The vast majority of our clients are not news watching and they are unaware. Even women who are abortion vulnerable are turned off by what they are seeing in a very big way. I don’t believe that Planned Parenthood’s clients are going to go away tomorrow because they don’t really know what is happening. So, it’s important we continue the battle at a legislative level and every way you can imagine.

The ultrasound has required Planned Parenthood to change their narrative. That’s important because it’s not a blob or a clump of cells, it’s a life. The evil is very obvious.

We need to remember as the Church, there are women who have made the decision to have an abortion, seen the videos and are now suffering and need to find help. So, ‘Project Rachel’ and other programs are going to be more important than ever. We, as a church, need to be ready to serve them when they are ready to come for help. We need to take good care of them.

DK: With saving more than 50 babies this year and an increase in clients, what is your greatest need as Verity Pregnancy Center continues to grow?
BA: We could always use more volunteers. But, we understand that in the world we live in, volunteering is a difficult thing to do, so we may need to soon look at increasing our staff. We’re preparing to add sexual transmitted disease (STD) testing to our services because many of our clients have put themselves or been put into very risky behaviors that create an STD. We want the baby to be protected from that. It’s going to take more help, but it also means it is going to save more babies. People who won’t come for a pregnancy test, might come for an STD testing. In return, it will start a conversation about waiting to have sex to avoid STDs and/or an unplanned pregnancy. This service can become the preventative arm in our ministry. We are also always in need of baby bath and diapers!

To help support the mission of Verity Pregnancy & Medical Resource Center, please donate and drop off Baby Bath and diaper to the Respect Life Table in the Narthex, next weekend. We thank you for your continued support and generosity!

World Meeting of Families – Love is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive

By: Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.

I had the pleasure of making public Pope Francis’ theme for the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia: Love is our mission: the family fully alive. The theme was inspired by the words of the early Church Father, St. Irenaeus, who said that “the glory of God is man fully alive.” In like manner, the glory of men and women is their capacity to love as God loves. And rarely can that love be lived out more intimately and fruitfully than in the family.

As we begin the “heavy lifting” to prepare for the World Meeting of Families and a possible papal visit, it’s a good moment to pause and reflect.

Every moment of every day, a mother and father are teaching and guiding each other and their children, while witnessing about their love to the world beyond their home. The structure of marriage — if lived faithfully — naturally points a man and woman outward toward the world, as well as inward toward one another and their children. As Augustine once said: “To be faithful in little things is a big thing.”

Simply by living their vocation, a husband and wife become the most important living cell of society. Marriage is the foundation and guarantee of the family. And the family is the foundation and guarantee of society.

It’s within the intimate community of the family that a son knows he is loved and has value. In observing her parents, a daughter first learns basic values like loyalty, honesty and selfless concern for others, which build up the character of the wider society. Truth is always most persuasive, not when we read about it in a book or hear about it in a classroom, but when we see it incarnated in the actions of our parents.

Marriage and family safeguard our most basic sense of community, because within the family, the child grows up in a web of tightly connected rights and responsibilities to other people. It also protects our individual identity, because it surrounds the child with a mantle of privacy and personal devotion. Most of the laws concerning marriage in our culture were originally developed precisely to protect family members from the selfishness and lack of love so common in wider society.

The family is the human person’s single most important sanctuary from mistaken models of love, misguided notions of sexual relationships and destructive ideas about self‑fulfillment. All these painful things, unchecked, can be a centrifugal force pulling families apart.

Love is a counter-force. Love is the glue both for family and society. This is why love is the fundamental mission of the family. It’s why the family must be a sanctuary of love. We most easily understand love when we, ourselves, are the fruit of our parents’ tenderness. We most easily believe in fidelity when we see it modeled by our father and mother.

Love lived generously is the unanswerable argument for God — and also for the dignity of the human heart. And marriage is transformed and fulfilled when spouses cooperate with God in the creation of new life. A husband and wife are completed by sharing in God’s procreative gift of life to their children, who are new and unique images of God.

In my years as a priest and bishop, I’ve seen again and again that the human heart is made for truth. People are hungry for the truth; and they’ll choose it, if it’s presented clearly and with conviction. Therein lies the need for every Christian marriage to be engaged in preaching by example. A husband and wife who model a love for Jesus Christ within their family — who pray and worship together with their children and read the Scriptures — become a beacon for other couples. They also more easily acquire an outward-looking zeal for consciously spreading the Gospel to others, teaching the faith and doing good apostolic works.

Our God is the God of life, abundance, deliverance and joy. And we’re his missionaries by nature and by mandate. In a developed world increasingly indifferent or hostile to God, no Catholic family can afford to be lukewarm about the Church. No culture is so traditionally “Christian” that it’s heard enough about Jesus Christ, or safe from the unbelief and disregard for human dignity which mark our age.

Catholic families have a key role in God’s healing of a broken world. So let’s pray for each other — beginning right now — that the World Meeting of Families 2015 will become for each of us and all of Philadelphia a new Pentecost; a new birth of the Church in each of our hearts … for our own salvation, the salvation of our families and the redemption of the world.

Take the Pledge to Walk With Francis

Welcome Pope Francis to the USA by committing to follow his example of faith and service. At Walkwithfrancis.org you can pledge to Walk with Francis and transform our community through one or more of these commitments:

PRAY regularly for the Holy Father and learn about his message on the joy of the Gospel, the mercy of God and the love of Christ.

SERVE by reaching out and caring for those in need and supporting charitable efforts in our communities and beyond.

ACT to promote human life and dignity, justice and peace, family life and religious freedom, care for creation and the common good.

Honoring Our Blessed Mother Makes Every Day Mother’s Day

By Joseph Pronechen, of National Catholic Register

Commercially speaking, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. But celebrating it does not have to be confined to a single day of the year. Every day can be Mother’s Day if we honor our heavenly Mother and, by extension, our earthly mothers.

“One of the things forgotten by a lot of Catholics is that is May is the month of Mary,” says Helen Hull Hitchcock, founding director and president of Women for Faith & Family. “This entire month is named after Mary and is dedicated to Mary. The celebration of motherhood is also in May, and that’s for a very good reason. There’s a strong connection between the two.”
Most people are unaware of the religious connection, Hitchcock explains. In fact, while today Mother’s Day isn’t a religious holiday per se, its origins were.

Since medieval times, May and devotion to Mary were connected, according to the University of Dayton’s Marian Library. Some of the earliest traces go back to the 13th century in Spain. As this devotion spread and developed, Mary was honored with special devotions on every day in May, a custom originating in Italy in the 1780s, then extending as a Marian devotion far and wide by the next century, especially from 1830 on in Europe.

Meanwhile, it wasn’t until the early 20th century that Mother’s Day was celebrated in the United States. But that first official celebration, in 1908, was a religious one. Anna Jarvis, the founder and promoter, wanted this official day in memory of her mother, whom she had taken care of for quite a number of years. Jarvis requested the celebration in the Methodist church in West Virginia where her mother had taught Sunday school for more than two decades. Jarvis then spent years promoting Mother’s Day to honor mothers, but she was appalled by the growing commercialization, which she never intended.

Mary and Mothers

Father Michael Freihofer makes the connection between mothers and the Blessed Mother often in his homilies in Granby, Colo., where he is pastor of a parish composed of three churches.

He explains: “When I preach, I say, ‘Every child deserves to feel God’s love through their biological father and, the Blessed Mother’s love through their biological mother’.”

Father Brian McSweeney, makes the natural tie-in. He explains the relationship builds out of the understanding of our own mother.

“When we can understand that honor and respect due to our own mother, by extension we should understand the love and respect we owe to our heavenly Mother,” he says. “If we love our earthly mothers, how much more should we honor our heavenly Mother?”

“Mary has truly become the Mother of all believers,” writes Pope Benedict XVI in his 2005 encyclical Deus Caritas Est (On Christian Love). “Men and women of every time and place have recourse to her motherly kindness and her virginal purity and grace, in all their needs and aspirations, their joys and sorrows, their moments of loneliness and their common endeavors. They constantly experience the gift of her goodness and the unfailing love which she pours out from the depths of her heart.”

So how can we confine honoring a Mother like this to only a few days, or even a month?

Father McSweeney says we have a great model for honoring her as we come to understand how Christ honored his mother. “If it’s good enough for Jesus,” he says, “it should be good enough for us.” It was none other than Jesus who gave Mary to John — and us — from the cross.

John Paul II emphasized this truth in his 1987 encyclical Redemptoris Mater (On the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Life of the Pilgrim Church), when he wrote: “it is also true of every disciple of Christ, of every Christian. The Redeemer entrusts his mother to the disciple, and at the same time he gives her to him as his mother. Mary’s motherhood, which becomes man’s inheritance, is a gift: a gift which Christ himself makes personally to every individual.”

So one big way we can honor our Blessed Mother that carries through the entire year is to spend time with her. “How do you know you love someone?” asks Father Freihofer. “You want to spend time with him or her. That fosters a sense of thanksgiving because it’s really hard to love what you don’t know.”

Father Freihofer points out one important way to spend time with Mary is through Marian devotions, especially the Rosary. “It honors her because she asks us to pray the Rosary,” he says. “Jesus in private revelations even asked us to pray the Rosary.”

St. Louis de Montfort teaches us that the best way to reach Jesus is through his mother, notes Father McSweeney. The more we honor her, the closer we come to her Son, so this should be part of our daily life on our spiritual journey.

Then there’s meditating by using a scriptural Rosary or meditating on Scripture passages. Father Freihofer suggests asking the Holy Spirit to make us small and humble and then asking our Blessed Mother to hold our hand and take us to the foot of the cross to be cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus.

Hitchcock notes that even women who don’t have children of their own can relate to our Blessed Mother. For example, there are religious who dedicate their lives caring for the people in the Church, and many Catholic women are deeply involved in the pro-life movement, caring in a motherly way for human life, whether children or an elderly relative or friend. She remembers all women in a Mother’s Day prayer.

If there’s any doubt we should keep the honor of Mother’s Day going all year long, both for our Blessed Mother and our natural mothers, Father Harlow offers us one more consideration connecting our two mothers.

“We must also remember that by baptism our mothers were incorporated into the Kingdom of God and were anointed as ‘priest, prophet and king,’ thereby becoming princesses in the Kingdom,” Father Harlow says. “As such, we should never forget the deference which we owe our mothers as ‘princesses.’

“Mother’s Day takes on a whole new dimension when we understand that Our Lady’s intimate and royal dignity has been transferred to that of our own mothers — by nature and by grace.”

PRAYER FOR MOTHERS

Loving God,We ask your blessings on all mothers.May they be inspired with your mercy, wisdom, strength and selfless love.For new mothers with new responsibilities;For expectant mothers, wondering and waiting;For those who are tired, stressed or depressed; For those who balance the tasks of work and family; For those whose children have physical, mental and emotional disabilities; For those who raise children on their own; For those who selflessly place their child for adoption; For those who adopt a child into their family; For those who have lost a child; For those who care for the children of others; For those whose children have left home; For those whose desire to be a mother has not been fulfilled.Bless all mothers, that their love may be deep and tender, and that they may lead their children to know and do what is good. Amen

Feast of the Epiphany

The Church has a custom of blessing homes on the Feast of the Epiphany and the week following. Family and friends gather to ask God’s blessing on their homes and those who live in or visit the home. It is an invitation for Jesus to be a daily guest in our home, our comings and goings, our conversations, our work and play, our joys and sorrows.

A traditional way of doing this is to use chalk blessed during the Epiphany liturgy and write above the home’s entryway, 20 + C + M + B + 15. The letters C, M, B have two meanings. They are the initials of the traditional names of the three magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. They also abbreviate the Latin words Christus mansionem benedicat, “May Christ bless the house.” The “+” signs represent the cross and 2015 is the year.
January 6, which is 12 days after Christmas in the Gregorian calendar, marks not only the end of the Christmas holidays but also the start of the Carnival season, which climaxes with Mardi Gras. In some European countries, such as the Czech Republic and Slovakia, children dress as the three kings and visit houses. In their roles as the kings, or wise men, they sing about Jesus’ birth and pay homage to the “king of kings”. They are rewarded with praise and cookies.

Dia de los Reyes Magos is the Latin American celebration of Epiphany. In many Latin American countries, it is the three wise men and not Santa Claus who bring gifts for children. Children write letters to the wise men telling them how good they were and what gifts they want. In France, Le Jour des Rois (the Day of Kings), sometimes called the Fête des Rois, is celebrated with parties for children and adults. The galette des rois, or “cake of kings”, highlights these celebrations. This cake is round and flat, cut into the pantry, covered with a white napkin and carried into a dining room.
Children in Spain fill their shoes with straw or grain for the three kings’ horses to eat and place them on balconies or by the front door on Epiphany Eve. The next day they find cookies, sweets or gifts in their place. The “three kings” make an entry in many cities in Spain on Epiphany Eve, accompanied by military bands and drummers in medieval dress.

On Epiphany (or New Year) you can bless your house. You can make this as simple or as intricate as you like; include (liturgical) greeting (eg. “The Lord be with you…”), song or carol, holy water (sprinkling door, each room), reading (eg. Epiphany Gospel, start of John’s Gospel), more prayers, Lord’s Prayer, incense, and assigning parts to different members of the household. Many homes are the dwelling for one person – the blessing of a home is equally appropriate.

EPIPHANY HOUSE BLESSING

Leader: Peace be in this place.
All: And with all who enter here.

-THANKSGIVING OVER THE WATER-
Leader: Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. You have blessed the earth with abundant water. May it be for us a pledge of cleansing and protection.
All: Blessed be God forever.
A member of the family takes the water and a sprig of greenery and sprinkles the rooms of the house and the people, while all say together:
All: I will pour out water upon the thirsty ground, and streams upon the dry land.;
I will pour out my spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing upon your descendants.

-THE INSCRIPTION-
20+CMB+15
One person makes the inscription with chalk above the door, while another proclaims the corresponding words.
The three wisemen, C Casper M Melchior, and B Balthasar
Followed the star of God’s Son who became man
2015 Two thousand, fifteen years ago.
+ May Christ bless our dwelling
+ and remain with us throughout the new year
-Acclamation-
Leader: Lift up your heads, O gates!
All: That the King of Glory may come in
Leader: Who is the King of Glory?
All: The Lord of hosts is the King of Glory!

-Prayer-
Leader: God of Salvation, incline your ear. Bless us and all those who gathered here. Your angels send us, who will defend us, and fill with grace all who dwell in this place.
All: Amen

People of faith have never accepted a dichotomy between their faith and their work. They believe that their relationship with God and commitment to obeying His commands should impact every area of their lives: their family, their finances, and their vocation.

The Hobby Lobby Decision

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that certain “closely held” for-profit businesses can cite religious objections in order to opt out of a requirement in ObamaCare to provide free contraceptive coverage for their employees.

It’s Back – Living Your Strengths

Extremely popular group sessions begin soon. It is no secret God created each of us as unique individuals to grow and serve in fulfilling the body of Christ. But just how unique are we and for what purposes can we best utilize our strengths and natural talents?

Through four interactive and enlightening sessions you will journey from learning the natural talents and strengths God bestowed upon you to truly living your strengths with greater understanding, confidence, and personal fulfillment. We will also explore the unique talents of others and the contributions each can make toward greater stewardship and discipleship. But as it is, God placed the parts, each one of them, in the body as he intended. (1 Corinthians 12:18)

Back to School Drive Starts July 19th

The Drive will take place from July 19th to August 3rd and donations will be accepted in the Narthex before and after Mass, or please bring to the Parish Office during the week. Thank you!

VBS Gratitude

We had an amazing time at Vacation Bible Camp this year. 135 campers, over 60 middle and high school students and 30 adult volunteers enjoyed learning all about God’s unconditional love for us. Our thanks to all the volunteers who made the week extra special. They spent countless hours setting up for the event. A special thanks to all our wonderful St. John XXIII parishioners who were so generous with their donations for the camp. You are what makes St. John XXIII the special parish that it is!

The Thursday Morning Friends Group

Father had given a homily and when we spoke about the number of single people in our Parish alone – 577 – we asked what we were doing for them. We realized that probably not all of them were widows or widowers. So here is a group of people that need something, we’re not exactly sure what, but we’re hoping to fill that need. –Mary Bissaillon

Vacation Bible School Photos are already here!

A priest from the United States was visiting a small village in Haiti just months after the earthquake in 2010. The young priest, upon speaking with one of the village elders, noticed a reserved reticence in the man as he was asked his approach to healing the spirits of the villagers. Aware of the urgency of the situation, Father pulled no punches and told the Haitian gentleman, “Don’t worry, my friend, I’m here to help. Why do I sense you lack faith in me?” The Haitian relayed his concern. “Padre, we’ve had trouble with the Americans – the psychologists. They take our young people into dark rooms to talk about their problems. Instead of spending more time in the sun with nature – something that typically cheers people up – they take them by themselves behind closed doors. Instead of surrounding them with friends and family, they do these one on one sessions, where they focus on all the devastation and loss they’ve experienced. Instead of giving them work to do and home-cooked meals, they gave them time to languish, and some even got pills to take! Padre, after a while, we realized none of our people were getting better, and so we sent them away. We are grateful for the Americans’ help, but… our people need something different.”

The young priest thought about for a minute. “You’re right. You did the right thing. What people need most… is other people.”

When we share, we care, and we can only share with other people (cats don’t count). There’s over 500 single people in this Parish, and these are the ones particularly susceptible to the spiritual side effects of loneliness. We are truly social animals. In adults, loneliness is a major precipitant of depression and alcoholism. And it increasingly appears to be the cause of a range of medical problems, some of which take decades to show up.

According to psychologist John Cacioppo of the University of Chicago, loneliness sets in motion a variety of “slowly unfolding pathophysiological processes.” The net result is that the lonely experience higher levels of cumulative wear and tear. In other words, we are built for social contact. There are serious, life-threatening consequences when we don’t get enough. We can’t stay on track mentally. And we are compromised physically. Social skills are crucial for your health.

We function best with a diverse group of people around us, and so a few of our plucky parishioners started the Thursday Morning Friends Group (it is exactly as it sounds). Taking place the first Thursday of every month after the 8:00 am Mass, and lasting until 11:00, the group focuses on the quality of relationships. Numbers aren’t important. Just as you don’t measure the quality of your social life against your tally of Facebook friends, the TMFG isn’t out to set records. To find out what they were all about, we asked them. This is what they said.

Damian: So you started in the Bereavement Ministry, and you recognized the need for connection and how we’re all in some kind of pain…
Mary Bissaillon: And not only that, we’re all different. We all grieve in our own way and the Bereavement Ministry may not be what someone needs – specifically.

DH: And so you started the Thursday Morning Friends Group. This is a good sized parish and the best part of being in a big parish, is the opportunity to join some diverse, small groups. So tell me what you do in this ministry.
Marilyn Marr: Well, I’m not a widow. We just moved here a year ago and just love, love , love this parish. My idea was to get into as many groups here as I could to meet people. It helps me when I go to Church and can look around and say “Oh, I know her or I know him”. It makes it a real community for me. So when I heard about this group I told Mary that I would commit to one Thursday a month and help her get it off the ground. You know, make a friend, be a friend.

DH: So tell me about some of the activities that you do.
MB: The first meeting was a brainstorming meeting with 50 people and we had all kinds of ideas. Unfortunately the second one didn’t attract as many people. So we went into the narthex and had our own brainstorming meeting and we came up with the idea of a Potluck Breakfast. Well that was fabulous, and the turnout was great.

DH: It was fabulous – not huge – but the spirit of the room was alive.
MB: We had 17 people and that was marvelous. It’s nice to build mountains but you can’t always do that if you start with molehills. And I am so fortunate to have met Marilyn, because we bounce well off each other – very compatible.

DH: You mentioned mountains and molehills and sometimes we focus on getting our “numbers” up but that’s not what it’s about. It’s about the quality of the relationships within the ministry itself, so sometimes it’s good to keep it small. These ideas that you are referring to – what are those ideas?
MM: Well, we’re going slowly. First of all, a lot of the snowbirds are leaving so I’m not sure what we will accomplish over the summer months but next month we are going to take a trip and visit the Retreat House for the Diocese. I’ve never been there or even heard of it, so we set up a meeting and we will go up for a tour. Father will say Mass. We’ll have lunch together, and it will just be sort a day of fun and activity – and that’s really what we’re all about, right?

DH: That’s very important. So when do you meet and do you have a format of the meeting or how does that work?
MB: It’s kind of informal. Our goal is to just bring people together. We are learning more and more that there are so many people… alone. They want someone to reach out to them but they don’t know where to go, so hopefully we can fill that need.

DH: I think loneliness is like the number one scourge. That’s what our culture does. All the technology, the way our cities are designed to isolate and we go to our homes – our fortresses – and spend time in solitude. But the sharing and the caring is the most important thing. This is all about people.
MB: Yes. Absolutely. I love this parish. As you drive in it says, “All are welcome”.

DH: Is there any sort of spiritual component to this, or is it all just play?
MB: We start with a prayer and end with a prayer, so we keep it pretty light.
MM: My motive is certainly spiritual – the idea of connecting. To me, our Eucharistic celebrations are communal experiences. Being in a community that you can feel part of is what is important. Finding ways to connect as a body to the body of Christ.
MB: But Marilyn, I have to tell you, when I looked around Church this morning, I recognized so many people. So many visitors walk in and say how beautiful the church is, and I say ‘yes, and the people are great too!’

DH: Ha! Well thanks for hanging around and talking. And thank you for bringing more community to our community.

Every Child’s Wish | Father’s Day

Prayer isn’t a verse of words you repeat. It is how you live your life… Neither is communication a conversation between two people. You communicate by the actions you take, and in the way you live. –Father Paul Charbonneau

Every man wants to be the ideal father, and every child wants to have the perfect dad – but perfect is impossible. So what would a great father look like? My dad worked hard, but made time for us. He was a great provider, but neither spoiled us, nor used material things as bargaining chips for getting his way. In fact, looking back, there’s no telling what his way might have been – it was all about making his family happy. My father never forgot that his children were going to mimic him in adulthood, and be attracted to people like him as spouses and friends… And that’s what I’m most grateful for – his love and sense of responsibility. Without those two things, there’s no telling what path life may have taken – but with those things – we can have peace, happiness and joy in our lives.

And that’s sort of the gist of the interview with father and son – Jack and Rich Byrnes. At one point, Rich explains that he’s not too concerned with his (adult) children’s careers, but he’s proud of the people they’ve become. Unlike many in our world today, he cares less for the exterior of their lives and more about their internal character. In any walk of life, God can use us to help people, and touch people’s lives in a way that brings them closer to God. And in that way, Rich and Jack have been successful – not perfect – but they laid the path for their children, who will one day teach their children, who will then, one day teach their children…

Interview with Jack & Rich Byrnes

DH: We’re here to talk about what it is to be a father. Tell me, each one of you, what you remember most about your father growing up.
Jack Byrnes: Well, my father was a good role model. He worked many, many years with the railroads and I just took after him as I grew up. I think I’ve passed that on to Rich and my other two sons.

DH: What does it mean when you say he was a good role model?
JB: Well, he was honest and loyal and had all of the Boy Scout-type of attributes. He was loyal to the Church and spent a lot of time in the Church. That’s what we try to do in our family.
RB: I would say the same thing. I think of the amount of time that dad would spend with us. He worked very hard, but also he would take time to spend with us on weekends taking us on lacrosse trips or to hockey games.

DH: So you guys grew up up north? They didn’t have lacrosse here back then. Where did you grow up and what was that like?
Rich Byrnes: My job took me around the country and Rich was born in Sacramento. We moved to Maryland, then to Canada and back to Columbus, Ohio. So we’ve been around. I don’t think they liked it, my family, when we pulled up stakes, but looking back I think it was a good experience – growing up to see different parts of the country and Canada.
RB: And we learned how to adapt to new environments.
JB: And now he’s about to embark on another adventure.

DH: So you’re moving to Tennessee. I grew up in Tennessee. Tell me what you think, either one of you. What’s the most important part of being a father?
RB: I think the main thing is passing on the values that I learned growing up. My kids are grown now. They’re 24 and 26. As a younger parent you’re thinking, I want them to be good kids. But now I’m happy that they’ve grown into great adults and I’m very proud of both of them and what they’ve become. Not as much with their careers – but with who they are as people. And I think that’s the main focus. It’s understanding that it’s who they have become as people that is important. They both have a great faith life and they’re both very helping individuals. My daughter is a kindergarten teacher and my son spends a lot of time with his church in the music ministry. He does a lot of volunteer work in the community. Being a parent and seeing your kids be able to do that in life – that’s what makes it all worth it.

DH: What can kids get only from a father? Like, what kind of masculine characteristics do you bring to the vocation of fatherhood that a woman just cannot?
RB: Dad was the disciplinarian in the family where my mother was more of a comfort blanket to our whole family. My dad was the one from whom you really knew right from wrong. It’s kind of like the priests we have here. They guide you right from wrong. Dad used to crack a belt. He never used it but…

DH: Just that sound, the leather belt, is scary!
RB: Yes, we would get real quiet when we heard the belt crack.

DH: So Jack, did your kids get into mischief? How many kids did you have?
JB: Four.

DH: Were they just garden variety mischievous or did some of them demonstrate serious character defects?
JB: Hah! Well, we tried to keep them busy. That’s the main thing. They played football and lacrosse. Rich was third baseman on the little league team. You keep them busy and out of trouble that way. I’ll give most of the credit to my wife for how they turned out.

DH: You probably didn’t have all boys.
JB: No. I have one daughter.

DH: And Rich, you have a son and a daughter, right?
RB: Right.

DH: What are the differences between raising a boy and a girl?
RB: You have to listen a lot more with a girl. (Laughter)
JB: Well, the girl tends to be impatient as we chase the guys doing their athletics. If they’re on a traveling team the girls have to go along, and not necessarily enjoy it… but she was outnumbered in our case. Three to one.
RB: I don’t know since we had a boy and a girl if it was gender based, as much as it was their individual interests and needs. I think throughout their time growing up, just spending time with whatever their interests were was important. At one time my daughter was a dancer and so we supported that, but then in high school she decided she wanted to play lacrosse, just out of the blue. And so I went from one day never having played sports with my daughter, to spending the entire summer practicing, practicing, practicing. So that was one of my memories, spending that time with her. With my son, he was into sports and music and I was as well. The memory that I have recently is just recording music with him. Those are the memories that will never fade.

DH: What was it like seeing your daughter transition from dancing, which is about grace and beauty, to a blood sport like lacrosse? Sometimes when you watch girls lacrosse, you’re like SCARED for them, right?
RB: Oh yeah. In one of these practices she didn’t have her mask on and the ball missed her stick and bloodied her lip, and I just couldn’t believe it had happened. There she was with a big fat lip and blood gushing out. I’m thinking, what did I get her into this for? I think it’s all in how you adapt to their changes. They’re going to change through life. My daughter early on was more introverted. When she was going into middle school, there was a life teen program at our church in Pittsburgh. I had never thought about being part of the music ministry before, but it was in 2001 that I joined the music ministry and have done it ever since. But my thinking was that I want the kids to get closer to Christ and they both have benefited from that. All of the volunteer work in the youth group programs that they got involved in was a result of that. I didn’t do a lot of that myself growing up, but setting that example, now I see my son is playing music at his church. He’s 24 and it’s kind of neat to see them follow your footsteps.

DH: Jack, you had three boys. Did they just beat each other up mercilessly or did they get along?
RB: (Laughter) It was good to be the biggest of the three – and the youngest!
JB: No. They were all individuals and they complemented one another. They all played sometimes on the same team, like lacrosse, in Ohio. There was competition but I think they all had their own paths. Some were better than others in certain sports but they weren’t too competitive among themselves.

DH: So that was probably a break for you. So you guys are still pretty close and that’s a good thing. Sort of at a deeper level, you see a lot of times families grow apart and whatever mistakes a parent makes with a kid, that kid makes them with their kid. But it sounds like you guys really did it right and you knew how to love your kids. For parents who are at a loss, how would you advise anyone on the best way to show your children you love them, and ensure they have that instilled in them for when they go forward to have their own kids?
JB: One thing that comes to mind is when Rich was out of work in January. I invited him to join me each morning and walk through the prayer or memorial garden and say the Rosary. So we’ve had about four months of being together each morning before Mass. It’s something I’ll miss – not having him with me. But I hope he continues to do it in his new occupation: to do it on his own… I’ll be thinking of him.

DH: And you’re going to Tennessee to do what?
RB: Director of Transportation for Nike.

DH: So how about you Rich, how do you show your kids you love them or how would you tell other parents or new parents with young children the best way to be patient, loving, kind?
RB: I think a lot of it is faith-based. And I think it’s having a strong faith. And my faith in the last three to four months has been built stronger than ever. You think at certain times in your life, well, this is “it” and what I have learned is that there isn’t any finish line in life or after life. You just have to keep on working at things. I try to instill that in the kids. My daughter is going to be moving and she doesn’t even have a job, but she’s moving to Ohio and looking for a teaching job. She doesn’t know what lies ahead but she has good faith and good values, and so she isn’t concerned about what lies ahead because of that. She knows that my son is up there and, like you said, we have a good, tight family and they’re going to help each other out when she gets there. Like I said, in the last three months, through the Church and through saying the Rosary every morning and daily Mass, these are the things that I never would have thought of doing because I was so busy with work. Another great opportunity is the Men’s Gospel Forum on Monday mornings. People had invited me to that many times and I was thinking – oh, that’s not what I’m all about, and now that we’ve both been doing that together for the last six weeks, I’m thinking – the whole Church should be here! All of the men should be here. You can see so many people at different points in their faith. Some people are very knowledgeable about the Bible and other people are very knowledgeable about how to raise a family. It’s just a great way to share. That’s helped me to share with my wife and my kids thoughts that I wouldn’t have normally talked about with them. I think it is important to be a good communicator. Let them know how you feel. Let them know that you love them – and I think they will pass that on to their families.

DH: So, last question for both of you or each of you, what’s been the biggest challenge of fatherhood?
JB: Well, I guess I was adventurous and when there were changes in my career and opportunities in different states, it was difficult to know if I would be successful, but I was a risk taker and it seems like it has turned out pretty well. But like Rich, he’s going to a new job and I’m sure he’s somewhat apprehensive as to whether he’ll succeed. But I think most people are like that when they go to a new situation, and that’s what I was concerned with, that my family would prosper from the change.
RB: I think mine would be, in our family we made the decision early on that my wife would stay home with the kids so I have always had that pressure – having a job and continuing to move on and to move ahead with my work to support the family. So I think that was a big challenge but I think one of the things I wasn’t ready for was having newborn kids and dealing with all of that. That’s a big life changer. When that happened, my dad told me “now you understand what responsibility is all about”. And you take a different attitude towards work. When you’re a young parent, because you say OK, you thought you knew what responsibility was before, now you have a whole family to feed and you really learn that.
JB: I’d like to say one thing that has impressed me about this guy (Rich). He’s a musician and he’d rather be doing that than working, but… he wrote a song. He writes a lot of songs, but he wrote a song about me.
RB: It’s called, What would my dad do? I actually wrote it before the whole “What Would Jesus Do” thing. (Laughter)

DH: So they got that idea from you?
JB: It’s a great song.
RB: I wrote it for a birthday party that he had 27 years ago.
JB: Who’s counting?
RB: I’ll send you the lyrics for that because it really sums up what a father is and when you lie awake at night, trying to decide which direction to proceed I fall down on my knees and figure out “what would my dad do?” I think that’s what it’s all about – being the foundation for the family, being the cornerstone for the family and that’s what this guy was to me and to our whole family growing up. That’s why I wrote the song.

DH: I can identify with that because it’s hard when you’re young and single and selfish but just growing up, my dad is still one of my heros – the selflessness. You can’t even wrap your head around it but he always did the right, loyal thing. Put everybody else first, and so I get that. So thanks for talking to me and Happy Father’s Day. Good luck in Tennessee.

It’s really happening!

This Sunday, April 27th during and after the 11:15 am Mass, we’ll be holding our Canonization Celebration commemorating John XXIII and John Paul II. Come join in the festivities and listen to Father Bob’s reflection on his encouter with our Holy Father.

Gratitude

To all who served during our Easter Services, thank you. A LOT goes into making the Triduum & Easter so special – namely for those entering the Church. We’d like to acknowledge Catherine Vaughn and her Art & Environment Team. Bob Kirchner and his Choir. Mike Navarro, Marc Bingcang, Vince Knipfing and all other Sacristans involved in the Triduum.

Thank you to Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Servers, Ushers, Greeters, Parking Attendants, and everyone who made this Easter Weekend special. Alleluia. Special thanks to Peter Smith, Mike Angellotti, Rob Erp, Stella McCaffery and the gardening committee for making our grounds look so beautiful and welcoming. Thank you to the anonymous donor of the two golf carts – what an amazing gift!

& Welcome!

We warmly welcome the following new members who were initiated into our Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. May Christ always be your focus and may you know the comfort of his love forever. Our new Catholics are: Natalia Amado, Michael Polsinelli, Cuong thi Son, John Willis, Debra Bartha, Jacob Boudreau, Rhonda Crutcher, Donald Lewis, Barbara Martin, Suzie Norfleet, Barbara Sutton, Bill Sutton, and Brad Ward.

Christina Condon was baptized Catholic, and completed the Sacraments of Initiation. Thank you to all the members of our community who helped them on their faith journey; our Catechists: Ginny Whelan, Dan Pieper, Leslie Robertson, Mark Bir, Paul Kielmeyer, Sandy Szymanski, Joanne Macpeek, Margaret McGreevey, Rich Bryne, Deacon Rich Klish, and Pat Nacol. Thank you Jennifer Engelman for all your help keeping us organized and being present whenever needed.

We appreciate and thank Barbara Catineau for her year-long commitment to the RCIA Ministry from Inquiry through to the Easter Vigil.

Thank you to all the members of the Ladies Guild who supplied delicious refreshments on Sunday Morning and Lois Becker and those who helped with the lovely reception after the Easter Vigil. Our DRE Chris Biel, our priests, Frs. Bob, Bernie & Marcin, and to you our parishioners for your prayers and support.